He was born on 2 September 1883 in Kolomea, Galicia.

His father was a grain merchant.

Z. learned in a cheder and at the Baron Hirsh school. He sang with a cantor. At the age of thirteen he transferred out of his courses and worked for three years with his father.

In 1899 he became an "extra" in Juvelier's guest-starring troupe, with which he went to Czernowitz with as a chorus singer and in episodic roles.

Afterwards he returned to Kolomea with the Treitler troupe. Here he transferred out of acting and began to work for his father.

In 1903 he immigrated to America where he acted in vaudeville with Aaron Morgenbasser in Singer Hall in Brownsville, afterwards in other Yiddish vaudeville houses in New York and its provinces.

He began legitimate theatre, going over to the Third Street Theatre of Gabel, where he acted for two seasons, afterwards for three years with Nathan Goldberg at the Plaza Theatre, and later two seasons in Montreal, participating at the Oriental Theatre.

After he was introduced in 1914 to Rosa Rubin, he acted together with here in vaudeville and legitimate theatre.